Sheriff declares state of emergency at jail, Portune ponders necessity

Jail Operations Commander Dave Turner, Sheriff Jim Neil and Major Chris Ketteman speak at a press conference Wednesday announcing a state of emergency at the Hamilton County Justice Center due to jail overcrowding.(Photo: The Enquirer/Mariel Padilla)Buy Photo

Sheriff Jim Neil declared a state of emergency at the Hamilton County Justice Center due to jail overcrowding during a Wednesday news conference, but a county commissioner is skeptical of its necessity.

Neil made the declaration after receiving a letter from Maj. Chris Ketteman, his new Court and Jail Services Division Commander.

At about six weeks in his new position, Ketteman wrote: "We can no longer manage this facility and maintain a safe environment for both our staff and the inmate population."

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The Hamilton County Justice Center in downtown Cincinnati. The average daily inmate population is 1,424, according to their web site. It's under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff's office. It was built in 1985 at a cost of $54,000.000.(Photo: The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour)

Neil responded to Ketteman's plea by reaching out to the Hamilton County Commissioners. In a letter sent Wednesday to Board President Todd Portune, Neil said the jail population reached a "boiling point."

"We are now not only outside the acceptable practices at the jail but are also operating far below minimum jail standards," Neil wrote. "I have no choice but to act, and act I will, for the safety of everyone involved."

Portune, surprised by the letter he received an hour before Neil's news conference, said the declaration is unnecessary as there are "more than half a dozen options that exist and are available for immediate implementation."

For the past 190 days, Neil said the Justice Center has been over the 1,240 inmate limit set by the federal court. There were 1,611 inmates as of Sunday.

Ketteman said the spike in inmates, at least partially, can be attributed to arrests related to the heroin epidemic.

The Hamilton County Justice Center has been forced to house inmates in the day space, open areas and gymnasium, which has led to increased inmate violence and security concerns, Ketteman said.

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The Hamilton County Justice Center in downtown Cincinnati. The average daily inmate population is 1,424, according to their web site. It's under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff's office. It was built in 1985 at a cost of $54,000.000.(Photo: The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour)

Neil said that 25 offenders were transferred to the Butler County Jail Wednesday and other neighboring counties have been contacted to determine their capacity to house more.

While Neil was speaking to the press, Portune was meeting with the county judges, representatives from the prosecutor's office and county administrators to discuss the issue of jail overcrowding. Portune said the meeting had been on the agenda for months.

"Twenty-five inmates is well within the county's ability if the sheriff only asked. No such request came to the Board of County Commissioners, the judges or the courthouse administration," Portune said.

It will cost the county $75 per inmate per day to house them in the Butler County Jail.

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According to Portune, there is currently task force, populated by representatives from the prosecution office, county administration, clerks office, court house administration and the sheriff's office that has been meeting for months to discuss both short-term and long-term solutions to the jail overcrowding issue.

"The issue of jail overcrowding is a serious problem. We've been giving it the full measure of our attention," Portune said. "After collaboration across departments and party lines, the task force is close to recommending solutions."